Pearce: England Seen as a Laughing Stock After World Cup Debacle

Former England U-21 manager Stuuart Pearce says England have come in for ridicule after crashing out of the group stages of the World Cup following successive defeats to Italy and Uruguay.

Pearce attributes England's poor show to its skewed policy on fielding youngsters.

Roy Hodgson brought a lot of youngsters into the side this season, including Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Ross Barkley. However, they could not deliver when it mattered.

Pearce believes England is being ridiculed for failing to send their best young players to tournaments on a regular basis but fielding them in major events.